Where We Stand

Written by Calvin Warpula, this originally appeared in the December 5, 1985 edition of the Gospel Advocate.

"Give me a place to stand, and I'll move the world" cried Archimedes. He was speaking of the principle he had discovered of the power of the bean and the fulcrum. If he had a beam long enough, and a fulcrum large enough, then he could indeed move planet earth. But to do this, he needed a place to plant his feet. To move anything, he had to have a place to stand. If we are ever going to do anything, we too, must have a place to stand.

Some folks ask, "Where does the church of Christ stand? What do you believe on such and such an issue?"

First, we stand on the total reliability and dependability of the Bible as the word of God to direct us in all matters of faith and doctrine. That means we accept the Bible as the word of God in all that it affirms to direct us in living to please God in every area of life. The Scriptures are sufficient to guide us and the only written record of Almighty God.  No other so-called revelations or teachings can in any way be on a par with God's word. The Scriptures are authoritative, not feeling, speculation or popular opinion (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Second, we stand on the total sufficiency of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to save us from our sins, and to be our only Lord and Savior. Everything we do must glorify Him, even all that we eat or drink. We must do all in His name, or not do it at all. Jesus is the source, force and course of the life of His people, the church. Jesus is Lord of all of or life (Acts 4:11-12, Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31).

Third, we are saved by faith in Christ whose death on the cross and resurrection from the dead is God's active working power to forgive, sustain and deliver us from evil forever. Everything we do in response to the cross is not a work to earn salvation, but to accept and appropriate a salvation fully paid for at Calvary (Romans 3:21-26). The response of trust in Christ, turning from sin and immersion in water into Christ surrenders to the cross and makes it possible for God to save us. Everyone in the world who has accepted and obeyed Christ in this way is added to His church and becomes a member of Christ's body, the church, that exists throughout the world where people call on His name for salvation (Acts 2:36-47).

Fourth, the Holy Spirit of God helps our infirmity (Romans 8:26-27). We are not baptized, then abandoned. The Lord never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). His Spirit is with His people (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19-20). The Holy Spirit assists us by leading us by the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, by helping in our prayer life, thus, motivating us inwardly to live for God, and strengthening us against the evil one (Ephesians 6:17, Romans 8:1-28).

Fifth, the church is not a denomination but the universal body of Christ. Local congregations are to follow the teachings of the word of God in regard to Christian worship, service and godly living (1 Timothy 3:14-15). We are to obey the word of God in matters of outward, doctrinal form and inward, spiritual content.

No one has the right to make any laws for God nor does he have the right to disregard any laws of God. The church exists where people obey the word (Luke 8:11-15). Since the word is readily available to billions of people in over 1700 languages and dialects, then only God knows where all His people are. Only those practices that are permanent and universal should be necessarily bound on all believers today. Careful distinction must be made between first century culture and permanent doctrinal practices. While the church may be divided in opinion, it must be united in Christ. Thus, the church has no stand on anything except as the word of God directs. The question that really matters is not, "Where do we stand" but "What does the word of God say?" Every believer, and church as well, must always study afresh the Word for themselves. Tradition, while necessary for an orderly life, is good only so far as it follows biblical teachings and practices.

These principles should help us in our efforts to live for Christ and tell others of His saving love. On Jesus Christ and the word of God, we have an eternally safe and secure place to stand.